What prescription drug is House addicted to in House M.D.?

House is addicted to Vicodin in House M.D. Vicodin is a prescription combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, and the show repeatedly connects House’s use of it to the chronic pain in his leg.

House’s addiction is not merely a character quirk. It affects his judgment, relationships, employment, and medical license. The series uses the problem to explore dependence, withdrawal, denial, and the ways his colleagues try to manage or confront his behavior.

The character’s limp and pain result from an infarction in the quadriceps muscle of his right leg. He refuses amputation and is left with permanent muscle damage, which becomes a major part of his identity and daily life.

Viewers sometimes call Vicodin an opioid alone, but the branded medication contains an opioid analgesic together with acetaminophen. The show’s portrayal is fictionalized and should not be treated as medical advice.